Hunter Douglas Brings First Sun Control System Made from Recycled Bottles to Middle East

Materials used in GreenScreen collection are PVC‐free and fully recyclable

Dubai, UAE: Hunter Douglas, a global leader in the construction materials business, will soon introduce in the Middle East region a new innovation in the field of light and energy control ­– GreenScreen, the first sun control system made from recycled bottles.

The Middle East, and particularly the UAE with initiatives such as Masdar, has made great strides in the last several years to become one of the world's most environmentally friendly regions and one of the environment's greatest allies. Thus, Hunter Douglas believes there will be great regional interest in the new GreenScreen solution.

Part of the new collection's appeal lies in the exceptionally sustainable materials used for its development. For instance, GreenScreen® Eco consists of 100 percent recyclable polyester fibres, while the GreenScreen® Revive™ materials was produced from recycled plastic bottles. Hunter Douglas is the only manufacturer in the field using these sustainable materials for project-based light and energy control.

André Weiss, who was responsible for the development of GreenScreen at the firm's daughter company Artex in The Netherlands, is convinced there is a big future for this collection in the market of project-based light and energy control. Weiss said: “Every year, around 20 million square metres of used roller blind materials end up in the garbage. These materials often contain large amounts of PVC, so their potential impact on the environment is huge. GreenScreen is a sustainable alternative, thanks to the use of PVC-free and completely recyclable materials.”

GreenScreen Eco is a material consisting entirely of polyester fibres; no other materials are added. This means that after usage, the fabric can be melted down without the need for waste spearation and used as raw material for other products.

Weiss added: “For example, we've teamed up with a company that uses recycled roller blinds to produce playgroudn equipment, such as slides and swings. GreenScreen Eco has been awarded Cradle-to-Cradle certification for this product property.” The product line offers an affordable alternative to architects and interior designers in search of a sustainable, decorative sun control solution.

The GreenScreen Revive roller blinds are also fully recyclable. The remarkable fact about this product line is that the raw material itself is a product of recycling. Explains Weiss: “The thread that goes into this fabric is made from PVC-free, recycled plastic water and soft drink bottles. To do this, Hunter Douglas works with waste processing companies in Japan and Germany, where these products are commonly separated from the waste flow. Every square metre of material contains two half-litre bottles. That's an average of six bottles for every roller blind.”

All of the GreenScreen product lines are compliant with the internationally recognised Greencode classification scheme for environmentally-friendly textiles. They also contribute to the LEED certification of buildings.

The GreenScreen collection can be used in EOS® 500, the roller blind system that won Hunter Douglas an iF design award in 2012 – thanks to its modular structure, which consists of no less than 300 interchangeable components. The system allows for the production of roller blind systems to project specification, while the EOS® 500's wide range of combination possibilities contribute to quick and easy installation.

About Hunter Douglas: Hunter Douglas is the market leader both globally and in The Netherlands for innovative, aesthetic, high-quality window coverings, sun control systems and architectural ceiling and façade panels. For almost 50 years, Hunter Douglas products have contributed to the sustainable thermal, acoustic and visual appeal of buildings across a wide range of branches and sectors, from trade to industry and from the catering business to government. These products consistently meet the needs of architects, designers and contractors, thanks to Hunter Douglas' intensive collaboration with these parties. Minimising environmental impact and waste flows is a vital part of the development, production, distribution, servicing and reuse of each product. The main office of the Hunter Douglas Group is in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Local units on every continent include over 60 factories, 100 assembly plants and marketing offices in over 100 countries. Over 16,500 staff members around the world invest their talents and skills in Hunter Douglas.